402 FROM DUDINKA TO GOLCHIKA 



already-fledged young on the tundra. I concluded that 

 their nests had been swept away by the flood, and that 

 they had not bred a second time. Temminck's stints 

 were extremely abundant; amongst the mate's collection 

 of eggs were thirty- three of this bird. He had also 

 secured for me some of the red-necked phalarope, and of 

 the ruff, which were not uncommon here. The only 

 warbler I saw on the island was the Siberian chiffchaff. 

 This bird was always to be heard, and frequently to be 

 seen. I took two of its nests, with eggs still unhatched 

 in them, and received twenty-five of its eggs from the 

 mate. The nests were on or only just above the ground. 

 I saw a few pairs of red-throated pipit, and took one of 

 their nests with five eggs, and got a second sitting from 

 the mate. In both cases the eggs were variable in 

 colour, forming a graduated series from dark brown to 

 stone colour. Occasionally I heard the Siberian pipit, 

 and I got a sitting of eggs from my deputy collector 

 which could belong to no other bird which 1 saw on the 

 island. Redpolls were not uncommon, and the mate told 

 me this was the earliest bird to breed. Most of its eggs 

 in his collection were taken before the river rose. He 

 took a few nests of a thrush. The eggs were apparently 

 those of the redwing. I saw a pair of thrushes, but 

 failed to shoot either of them. A pair of white wagtails 

 built their nest on the wreck of Schwanenberg's schooner. 

 The mate saved the eggs for me. I took a teal's nest 

 with eggs, and occasionally saw long-tailed ducks flying 

 past. The mate secured me three swan's eggs, birds 

 which were constantly to be seen. So far as I yet know, 

 Bewick's swan is the only species found at this place. The 

 Siberian herring-gull and the Arctic tern were generally to 

 be seen, and the same hand secured me eggs of both. 

 Occasionally a pair of Buffon's skuas flew over. 



